Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that asylum seekers who are pregnant are not moved to a new area (a) before and (b) after their baby is born.

Wherever possible, we will settle pregnant women into accommodation where they will be able to access services throughout their pregnancy and into new motherhood.

Pregnant women will be accommodated as close to the maternity unit where they are currently accessing and receiving care, as well as existing sources of family and social support.

Where there is no previous link to maternity services, pregnant women will be dispersed from IA as soon as possible so that they can establish health and community links in the dispersal area and avoid disruption around delivery.

Moves in the late stages of pregnancy would only be undertaken either at the request of the individual or her treating medical practitioners.